 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| BirthBeads.Com |
| Mother's Blessing Ceremony aka Blessing Way |
"Just as a tree grows best when anchored firmly in the earth, so can a pregnant mother feel
strong and capable when supported by a sisterhood of nurturing friends." -April Lussier
The Mother's Blessing Ceremony, also known as The Blessingway or Blessing Way Ceremony originates from the
Navajo people. It is a very positive ritual, affirming that a woman will have a natural and beautiful birth experience. The
ceremony marks a woman's rite of passage. It is a ceremony of empowerment near the time of birthing. Within a circle of
friends in a quiet, gentle, spiritual ceremony, those attending will celebrate sisterhood, welcome a new baby to earth and
honor mother, birth life and rebirth.
There are many forms of Mother's Blessing Ceremonies and this modern ritual can be molded to your "style". The
Ceremony can be short or long, incorporating many rituals or a few. Parts, such as the Birth Bead ritual, can easily be
incorporated into a Baby Shower. For me, the Ceremony was a solemn and very serious event which fed my spiritual
side. My baby shower, where my belly was Henna'd (see picture in History) fed my creative, fun and carefree side.
There is no "right" or "wrong" as long as your intentions are honorable and pure.
strong and capable when supported by a sisterhood of nurturing friends." -April Lussier
The Mother's Blessing Ceremony, also known as The Blessingway or Blessing Way Ceremony originates from the
Navajo people. It is a very positive ritual, affirming that a woman will have a natural and beautiful birth experience. The
ceremony marks a woman's rite of passage. It is a ceremony of empowerment near the time of birthing. Within a circle of
friends in a quiet, gentle, spiritual ceremony, those attending will celebrate sisterhood, welcome a new baby to earth and
honor mother, birth life and rebirth.
There are many forms of Mother's Blessing Ceremonies and this modern ritual can be molded to your "style". The
Ceremony can be short or long, incorporating many rituals or a few. Parts, such as the Birth Bead ritual, can easily be
incorporated into a Baby Shower. For me, the Ceremony was a solemn and very serious event which fed my spiritual
side. My baby shower, where my belly was Henna'd (see picture in History) fed my creative, fun and carefree side.
There is no "right" or "wrong" as long as your intentions are honorable and pure.
Order of Ritual
The following is the order of Ritual as performed by April Lussier for my Mother's Blessing Ceremony on January 31, 2004.
Welcome to this Sacred Ceremony and Smudging
The following is the order of Ritual as performed by April Lussier for my Mother's Blessing Ceremony on January 31, 2004.
Welcome to this Sacred Ceremony and Smudging
- Smudging is the burning of sacred herbs in ceremonies for clearing, prayer, & purification. White sage was used in this
ceremony, but be aware some attendees may be sensitive to the smoke and aroma of certain herbs.
Introduction to Blessingway
This can be done by the Mother-to-Be or the officiant. A brief history or explanation of the ceremony, such as the one
above, is explained to those in attendance.
Sing chant "In This Circle"
Personal Introductions (while grinding corn meal)
Woman o f past ages did not have the luxury to sit and visit, they socialized while performing every day tasks. As each
attendee introduces themselves, they share the story of how they met the Mother-to-Be while grinding corn meal to be
used later in the ceremony. A stone mortar and pestal was used in my ceremony, which was passed to the speaker during
the introduction.
Welcoming the Holy Women/Grandmothers
Invoke the 4-Directions presence and powers
Read Together Blessingway Chant "Before Me May It Be Blessed"
Sisterhood Ceremony with yarn and Goddess Spider Woman
In this ceremony yarn is passed around the circle. A few words about Spider Woman (or the Tantrika Spider Goddess
or the Greek Fates, etc) weaving the world can be shared as each woman present in the circle takes the ball of yarn in turn,
and wraps a bit of it around her wrist. When all the women are bound together by the circle of yarn in sisterhood, a few
words about being united through One Mother can be told. Then, each breaks off the yarn and wraps the dangling pieces
around her wristband. Though it appears as if each is now separate, we are still all cut from the same, one ball of yarn. Each
woman wears the yarn bracelet as a reminder of the Ceremony and symbol of support until the mother gives birth.
Sing Chant "We are Sisters"
Body Honoring Rituals -washing feet with sacred herbs and drying with corn meal
Herbs are added to water for foot washing of the Mother-to-Be, traditionally performed by a maiden. The feet are
washed, traditionally by the midwife or doula if in attendance. The feet are then dried and massaged with cornmeal (ground
earlier during introductions). The entire process is performed lovingly. It is lesson for the Mother-to-Be to accept the
services of others.
Transformation Ritual-hair braiding
The hairstlye of the Mother-to-Be is changed to symbolize the change in her mind from carefree maiden to responsible
mother. If the hair is tied up, bring it down. If it is down, braid it, twist it or tie it up. Traditionally, it is the mother of the
pregnant woman who combs her hair but the closest sister can also perform the duty. This is often the most moving part of
the ceremony, to have the future grandmother brushing her daughter's hair, as she did thousand times before. Here the
transmission occurs between the generations.
Blessing and Candle Lighting Ritual/Birth Bead Ritual
Each participant will have brought a bead and the gift of a written blessing: a poem, story, chant, or wish. If one individual has
gifted the Mother-to-Be with a BirthBead Starter Strand, that person sits to the right or on the floor in front of the
Mother-to-Be. As the Starter Strand is passed around the circle, a description of Birth Beads is read (such as that on
the Home page of this site) as well as a description of the beads as symbolic o f the chakras. Then, beginning with the
individual sitting to the left of the Mother-to-Be, each participant describes the bead they are gifting and why it was picked
(how did the bead speak to you?) . She then reads or recites her blessing as the bead is passed around the circle. When
the loose bead returns to the holder of the strand, it is placed on the strand. The order of the beads is determined by the
order it was given. Allow the universe to determine the order, just as it does in nature and in life! [If the beads are to be
stranded at a later time, place the loose beads in a plate of sand or modeling clay, spiraling into the middle.] Seal the end of
the strand (crimping bead included in Starter Strand Kit). The completed strand is now passed around the circle, allowing
it to receive the supportive and loving energy of the sisterhood. Present the Completed Strand to the Mother-to-Be.
The strand remains with the Mother-to-Be to be brought to the birthing process.
Mother-to-Be speaks from her heart
The Mother-to-Be may now read a blessing, poem, affirmations or passage of her choice.
Chant "Woman I am"
Connect with Baby's Energy and Light Rainbow Candle
Read Star Child Poem and Candle Lighting
Chant "We've all come to Welcome You"
Mother-to-Be's Giveaway
The Mother-to-be now gifts those present with individual "gifts". The gift can be an item made by the mother, something
found in nature, or a spoken prayer/wish for that person. (For my ceremony I wrote a wish in the form of a single word, such
as "love, patience, hope", etc, on river rocks. I randomly pulled the rocks from a special box I had placed them in as a came to
each woman. With a hug I presented her with my "wish" for her. Again, I allowed the Universe speak. The rock pulled for
my sister in law, who was experiencing fertility problems, read "Patience", for my teenage daughter "Dream", and a friend
struggling with her own spirituality "Faith"...)
Raise the Cone of Blessing, Release the Unseen Forces and Open Circle
Other Ideas and Stories for use in Mother's Blessing Ritual
I helped my friend (who is now home babymooning with her beautiful new daughter) have a blessingway recently. It was a really
beautiful experience for all the women who attended. We did a lot of things; my friend is very spiritual and self-actualized, so she
was able to give me a lot of direction in telling me what she wanted and what she needed, which I think is very important. I feel like
she mostly planned the general "activities," and my job was really just to get them executed.
The more memorable of the things we did at her birth blessing were:
- brushed her hair and rubbed her hands and feet with lavender scented water
- those at the ceremony who were attuned gave her (and her baby-in-belly) reiki
- each of us gave her a special bead we had picked out ourselves, explaining why we had picked it and what it meant, and after the
ceremony, she strung them all on a necklace she wore in labor
- each of us gave her a special blessing of some sort -- some people wrote their own, some people read things from books, some
people used traditional blessings from their own faiths
- I brought a big box of art supplies and we all did some "birth art" (read Birthing from Within for more info) and my friend kept all
the art to look at during labor
It was such a neat afternoon. I think if you have a strong circle of women around you, and you are ready to totally focus on your
needs and let others help you, there is no better way. - Debi L
- Thanks to the MotheringDotCommune Members for other ideas for your special ceremony!
If you have an idea or story to share, please email debora@birthbeads.com! We welcome your input!!
"I love the idea of either painting on the belly, or drawing with mehndi - you could have each friend do a bit, and as they're
doing it discuss what they wish for you - ie strength, endurance, joy, health, etc...Foot bath, massage, pedicure - celebrating
and loving the body of the pregnant woman. Even the process of sharing stories is great - as long as you keep it to the
positive stories!!! "
-Erica
"Have a circle ceremony where everyone brings something meaningful to put on a birth altar and then go around the circle
telling why you are giving that particular object for the altar. I expect you could modify that in many ways. I've also heard of
people getting together and bringing quilting materials to sew a quilt for the new baby" - Crescent
"We did the naming of our ancestral mothers while we wrapped a string around our wrists ~ this joined us all in a circle and
then we cut the string and wore it until the woman had her child. ..Something else that’s important is to really spend time
thinking about the mother that’s receiving the ceremony. It’s important to think hard about what she would appreciate and
what she needs. I know many mothers that seem to need some seriousness and spirituality during pregnancy but I also know
many mothers who want to be playful and laugh!"-Hannah Sims
I helped my friend (who is now home babymooning with her beautiful new daughter) have a blessingway recently. It was a really
beautiful experience for all the women who attended. We did a lot of things; my friend is very spiritual and self-actualized, so she
was able to give me a lot of direction in telling me what she wanted and what she needed, which I think is very important. I feel like
she mostly planned the general "activities," and my job was really just to get them executed.
The more memorable of the things we did at her birth blessing were:
- brushed her hair and rubbed her hands and feet with lavender scented water
- those at the ceremony who were attuned gave her (and her baby-in-belly) reiki
- each of us gave her a special bead we had picked out ourselves, explaining why we had picked it and what it meant, and after the
ceremony, she strung them all on a necklace she wore in labor
- each of us gave her a special blessing of some sort -- some people wrote their own, some people read things from books, some
people used traditional blessings from their own faiths
- I brought a big box of art supplies and we all did some "birth art" (read Birthing from Within for more info) and my friend kept all
the art to look at during labor
It was such a neat afternoon. I think if you have a strong circle of women around you, and you are ready to totally focus on your
needs and let others help you, there is no better way. - Debi L
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |